Italy Fantasia Tour

(8 days / 7 nights)

Itinerary:

Day 1: ROME
Welcome to Rome! After a meet & greet at the airport, you will be transferred to your hotel.
At 8:30 pm reach the meeting point (on the corner of Via del Traforo (near street no. 148) and Largo del Tritone, on the wide sidewalk opposite the wedding-dress shop) to be ready for the departure of the Rome by night tour. Our local expert guide will lead you to discover the wonders of the Eternal City, charming by day – absolutely romantic by night. You enjoy the whole center of this magic city in the moonlight during this panoramic mix of bus and walking tour. The tour ends in Colosseum area. Enjoy on your own the rest of the night. Return to the hotel on your own. Overnight at the hotel in Rome.

Day 2: ROME – ASSISI – SIENA – FLORENCE
Departing at 7:15 am from your hotel by a deluxe coach, you will arrive in Assisi, ready to explore, at your own leisure, this tiny town surrounded by walls, built in the Middle Ages. Take your time to visit the basilica of St. Francis, where you will see masterpieces by Giotto and Cimabue and, then, have free time for lunch (not included). Board on the bus to reach Siena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, world-known for the Palio, the historical horse race around the shell-shaped town square: Piazza del Campo. Next, you will continue on to Florence, where you will check in at your hotel before enjoying dinner and a well-earned night of rest. Overnight at the hotel in Florence.

Day 3: FLORENCE
After breakfast, you will spend the day venturing around beautiful Florence, the “Cradle of Renaissance, where, with the help of Michelangelo, Italian art reached its pinnacle.
Based on Etruscan-roman origins, the city flourished in the Middle Ages as a free “Comune” and was further refined during the Renaissance. You will be fascinated by the uncountable monuments, churches and buildings as Santa Maria del Fiore, more commonly referred to as the Duomo. On your visit, you will be amazed by its magnificent dome built by Filippo Brunelleschi. Cross a small piazza to see the “Campanile” tower (partly designed by Giotto) and the Baptistery, with its bronze doors where Michelangelo imagined the “Gates of Paradise.” In the heart of the city, you will see Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo della Signoria (also known as Palazzo Vecchio), and the Basilica of Santa Croce. Lunch in a typical Tuscan restaurant in Piazza Santa Croce. Spend the afternoon strolling the cobblestone streets of Florence on your own or take a short trip to Pisa (optional), one of the four main historical Marine Republics of Italy. There, you will tour the Piazza dei Miracoli with the Duomo, Pisa’s symbol “the Leaning Tower” and the Baptistery.
Dinner at leisure. Overnight at the hotel Florence.

Day 4: FLORENCE – BOLOGNA – PADUA – VENICE
After breakfast in Florence, departure to Bologna. There, you will discover the elegant city centre with its “porticos”, its shopping streets and so on. From Piazza Malpighi you will walk to Piazza del Nettuno and Piazza Maggiore (Neptune square and Major square) in the heart of the city, then King Renzo’s Palace; Palazzo Podestà and the basilica of San Petronio, one of the biggest in the world. Bologna it’s a real gourmet’s heaven…don’t miss a tasty meal at your own leisure! In the afternoon, continue toward Padova, with Sant’Antonio Basilica: one of the most visited churches by pilgrims of the catholic world. Later in the afternoon, arrival in Venice: the City of Love, one of the most romantic cities of the whole world and, undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man!
Check in at your hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Venice.

Day 5: VENICE
After breakfast, enjoy your private water-taxi transfer to Piazza San Marco, with “Skip the Line” tickets to visit the splendid St. Mark’s Basilica and, after this, check out the most iconic places of the “Floating City”: the Palazzo dei Dogi, symbol of Venice’s glorious past, the legendary “Bridge of Sighs”. Spend the afternoon roaming along Venice’s canals at your leisure and then return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Venice.

Day 6: VENICE – MONTEPULCIANO (TUSCANY WINE REGION) – ROME
After breakfast, departure from Piazzale Roma heading to Tuscany, world-known for its landscapes, its churches and castles and its delicious wines. You will proceed to Val di Chiana with a stop in Montepulciano, a medieval town rich in history and art. Known for its “Nobile” wine, on purchase in local wine houses, Montepulciano also hosts an annual jazz and wine festival every July. Lunch in a typical restaurant included! After lunch, quick stop to spend some free time. In the evening, you will arrive in Rome to check in into your hotel.
Overnight at the hotel in Rome.

Day 7: ROME
Between 7:45 – 8:00 am, after breakfast, departure from the hotel for the included tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica with our exclusive “Skip the Line” access! No stress to reach the area: upon arrival, your guide will lead you into the museums where you’ll visit one of the most important art collections of the world. Walk along the beautiful Galleries of Tapestries and Geographical Maps before admiring Raphael’s Rooms and, then, the amazing Sistine Chapel. After this incredible masterpiece, you will be taken by a privileged door to St. Peter’s Basilica: the biggest church in the world! The tour ends on St. Peter’s Square: enjoy the rest of the day to explore the city at your own leisure or get any one of our selected tours for the afternoon or at night!
Overnight at the hotel in Rome.

Day 8: ROME
After breakfast, transfer to the airport. Arrivederci!

Our package includes:
• All transfers from the airport in Rome to the hotel and vice versa
• 7 nights’ accommodation in Italy in 4* hotels including daily breakfast
• 1 Traditional Tuscan lunch in Montepulciano and 3 dinners in local restaurants throughout the tour
• Transportation in air-conditioned vehicle throughout the tours
• Tours as mentioned in the program
• Visit St. Mark’s Basilica with “skip the line”
• Discovering Rome by Night (regular sightseeing tour)
• Vatican Museums
• Sistine Chapel
• St. Peter’s Basilica (exclusive “skip the line”)
• Meet & assist of our representative in Italy

Our package excludes:
• Round trip ticket Beirut/Rome/Beirut.
• Visa fees
• Travel insurance
• Local city taxes
• Supplement for Venice Deluxe Canal View rooms
o EUR 170.00 per person in single room
o EUR 85.00 per person in double room
o EUR 60.00 per person in triple room
• Optional tours
• Beverages during lunch/ dinner
• Local city taxes